Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium will dawn about 400 larger-than-life lantern displays—creating the first experience of its kind in the country—as part of an all-new family friendly Halloween event, Ghouls & Glow presented by Veridian Credit Union, on September 27 – 29 and October 3 – 6, 10 – 13, 17 – 20 and 24 – 27.
The Zoo is working with Dazzle out of Texas and Tennessee-based iD8 Productions to put on Ghouls & Glow, which will take the place of Spooktacular, the Zoo’s former trick-or-treating event. The lanterns, custom-made for the Zoo, will illuminate the Bay Family’s Children’s Adventure Trails. Visitors will encounter dancing skeletons, candy monsters, jack-o-lanterns, ghosts, witches, wizards, spider web arches, sugar skulls with elements of nature, an eerie house, a mummy band and other friendly ghouls. A number of bats, vultures, spiders and black cats will also light up the trails.
Outside of the main lantern display, hundreds of hand-carved pumpkins will glisten along the Zoo’s pathways, as well as a 14-foot-6-tall pumpkin tree and themed lighting and décor provided by the Zoo’s holiday lighting partner, Holidynamics. Throughout the evening, Omaha Circus Arts will showcase their amazing acts of fire dancing, aerials, juggling and flow arts while Omaha Street Percussion returns with their popular percussion performances. Kids can even get foamed up at Frankenstein Foam Zone on the Desert Dome Plaza.
Visitors can also catch an animal ambassador program at the Dick and Mary Holland Meadowlark Theater, grab a bite to eat at Glacier Bay Landing or explore some of the Zoo’s indoor exhibits. See the nocturnal animals of Mahoney Kingdoms of the Night during their daylight cycles or watch the free-flying bats on the canopy level of the Lied Jungle®. Stingray Beach and Sue’s Wildlife Carousel will also operate during the event.
Tickets will be available for purchase online and inside Guest Services at the Zoo starting Monday, August 26, as well as at the door each night of the event. Pricing and hours will be available online at OmahaZoo.com. Event proceeds will go toward Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium’s animal health, wellness and enrichment programs and help further conservation worldwide. In preparation for the event, Bay Family’s Children’s Adventure Trails will close for the season on September 9.
